Make sure to check out this dynamic duo vegan couple… You may have seen their compete logo all over the place for their wonderful company Vegan Proteins… but besides providing a great source for people to get great plant based supplements they also run a non for profit organization by the name of PLANTBUILT and they are helping display the myth of vegans being weak and puny all while saving animals. In fact they will be hitting the stage next week in Austin Texas!!! How could we not make them both Mr. and Miss Sexy Bad Ass Vegans of May. If you have not yet been to their Social Media pages, you are missing out some very motivating souls. Not only are they one sexy bad ass power couple they are great at providing vegan health and fitness tips… make sure to check out April’s Sexy Bad ass Vegans
Name: Giacomo Marchese
Where do you live and where are you from? USA, MA, Haverhill
What do you do for a living/profession? I keep pretty busy and am fortunate to be in a position where promoting a compassionate lifestyle is my full time job. I run an all vegan supplement shop, VeganProteins.com and the largest team of vegan strength athletes from all over the world, Plantbuilt. With PlantBuilt, our sole purpose is to raise awareness for vegansim and to raise funds for farm sanctuaries and vegan outreach groups
What do you like to do for fun? I am usually either working or training in the gym most of the time. I enjoy being a competitive athlete and my sports of choice are bodybuilding and powerlifting. Outside of that, my absolute favorite thing in the world to do is go out and snowboard. When I am out on the mountains, nothing else matters. I also enjoy rock climbing, and all racquet sports.
.How long have you been vegan? I went vegan back in 2004 and just reached my 10 year veganniversary!
Why did you become vegan? Initially I became vegan for health and athletic performance. After being exposed to the horrors of farm factories, I quickly realized the ethical side of things. There is absolutely no reason why we should be exploiting other species and using them for our own selfish desires. Not to mention the impact that animal agriculture has on the earth. It’s completely unsustainable. It’s all about living an ethical and compassionate lifestyle for me now.
How was your transition? My transition was done over time actually. It took me about a year or so to start swapping out animals based foods in my diet to plant based ones. I started by eliminating meat, and then dairy and eggs, but I was still consuming Whey protein. MY fear was that I wouldn’t be able to build muscle without it and there was not much information or resources for vegan athletes back then. Fortunately I stumbled across a Mike Mahler an accomplished vegan strength based athlete who was explaining that pea protein has a very comparable amino acid profile to that of whey and how to find it. That was all I needed to hear. I ditched the whey and never looked back. We all have someone who helped inspire us, and for me it was Mike! Thanks buddy!!
What is the funniest misconception(s) that you have heard about vegans? HA! Heard plenty of these. That we are smelly hippies, who drive around in cars powered by celery and eat nothing but berries and twigs. Just like any other subculture or group of people, we come in all types, shapes, and sizes. Especially these days where you have people making the switch for health reasons and because they respect the life and environment around them. If that makes me a dirty hippie, so be it!
What is your Favorite thing(s) about being a vegan? I can sleep easy knowing that I am doing far less harm to the earth and trying to be a better person each and every day by living compassionately. I love knowing that can can save at least 100 animal’s lives each year, just be keeping animal products off your plate. That’s a win for me.
What do you think makes a Sexy Bad Ass Vegan? By not being afraid to speak out for the animals, I hope that it can inspire others to adopt a cruelty free lifestyle. My approach to activism is done through sports, bodybuilding specifically. I will never stop working hard, to show what the body is capable when you go vegan!
What is the best vegan dish that you make in your kitchen? You know, I am not really the most crafty person in the kitchen, but I do have some favorite foods that I like to put together. I have been really digging on Beast Burgers from Beyond Meat. I like supporting vegan shops and order mine online at VeganEssentials.com and they ship worldwide too, which is awesome! Here’s one of my favorite ways to put make them up:
Giacomo’s Hawaiian Double Beast Burger sliders
Serves 3 or one really hungry vegan!
Ingredients needed:
-1 package of beast burger sliders
-3 dinner rolls
-3 slices of pineapple 1/8-1/4” thick
-2 tbsp ketchup
-2 tbsp bbq sauce
-3 daiya cheddar slices
-6 slices of uptons bacon seitan
-3 tsp of earth balance spread
How to prepare:
-cook up 6 beast burger sliders and 6 slices of uptons bacon seitan in a pan on medium heat until crispy. Spray the pan lightly with cooking spray or add a splash of water in to prevent them from sticking.
-Once the burgers are cooked to your liking, melt a ½ slice of daiya cheddar on each slider.
-In a separate pan, spread a 1sp of earth balance on the inside of each bun to toast them up
-Add in 2 sliders with daiya cheddar, 1 slice of pineapple, 2 slices of uptons bacon seitan, ketch and bbq sauce to each roll and serve!!
Pro Tip: Add a third slider in and make it a triple beast burger slider!
Approximate macronutrient breakdown per burger:
Carbohydrates: 26g
Fat: 16g
Protein: 22g
Fiber: 4g
Calories: 321
What is the best Vegan Restaurant you have ever had the pleasure of eating at? This is a bit of a tossup between two of my all time favorite spots. Portobello Trattoria an Italian restaurant in Portland, OR and Cafe Indigo a vegan bakery that also serves a mean brunch in Concord, NH.
What advice do you have for those that are thinking of transitioning to a vegan lifestyle? I cannot think of a more supportive community than the vegan one. Don’t be afraid to reach out for support. Join vegan groups on facebook, or at local meet-ups. We are all in this together rand trying to make a difference and I am certain that the vast majority of us would love to be of any help that we can with making the transition!
Do you have a website to share with the BAV nation? Please stay in touch! You can find me on Muscles By Brussels Radio, a bi-weekly podcast, and Dani and I also post blogs and keep everyone up to date with that we are up to at VeganProteins.com. You can also checkout Plantbuilt.com and take a look at athletes bios of our fellow teammates, advocating for the animals!
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